Sources tell us that an appearance by Upton — whose Rookie of the Year pictures in the mag in 2011 helped make her a star — is still up in the air because of her diva demands.

“There was drama,” says the source. “Kate demanded that if she did the shoot, that she absolutely must get the cover. She also had a list of photographers and hair and makeup people she would only work with.”

Upton appeared on the magazine’s cover twice, in 2012 and 2013, when she was photographed in Antarctica.

The source continued of this time around, “She was being a big f - - king diva. She’s thinks she’s better than everyone because she’s an actress.”

Upton appeared in “The Other Woman” with Leslie Mann and Cameron Diaz in 2014, and the film was panned by critics. She has three films in post-production, including one directed by William H. Macy and another by James Franco.